Al-Baqarah 2:31

The issue

Verses 31–33 are a continuation of the conversation between Allah and the angels concerning the creation of man. These verses state that Allah taught Adam the names of “all of them.” Then Allah asks the angels to repeat these names, “‘if ye are truthful.’” The commentary of al-Jalālayn explains the meaning of Allah’s question to the angels, “‘if ye are truthful’”:

Allah meant that He did not create someone who is more knowledgeable than the angels, nor that they [the angels] are eligible to become vicegerents. In saying this, Allah was making it clear to the angels that they were mistaken in their assumption, and that their knowledge is not superior: “‘Glory be to Thee! no knowledge is ours but what Thou thyself hast taught us, verily, Thou art the knowing, the wise’” [Q 2.32], to which Allah would reply: “‘O Adam declare to them their names’” [Q 2.33].

Regarding the statement in Q 2.31 that Allah “taught Adam the names of all,” some Islāmic scholars say that the names that Allah taught Adam were the names of the creatures. Others believe that they were the names of everything in the world. However, another group of scholars believe that they were the names of the angels. Still others reason that they were the names of Adam’s descendents. Another example of improper handling of the divine nature of Allah is found in the Commenta­­­ry of al-Tabarī:

‘Alī Ibn al-Hassan told us: narrated by [a man named] Muslim, who narrated from Muhammad Ibn Mus. ‘ab, who narrated from ‘Asim Ibn Kulayib, who narrated from Sa‘īd Ibn Ma‘bad, who narrated from Ibn ‘Abbās concerning Allah’s saying, “And He taught Adam the names of all things.” He said: “Allah taught him the names of all things, including trifles, the corrupted and bad things, and the breaking of wind [flatulence].”